A parent’s guide to booking an apartment cleaning for your UF or Santa Fe student

Some of our favorite reviews come from parents. One asked us to clean their son’s college apartment and loved that we “sent progress pictures throughout the job.” Another booked a one-time clean of the house their son shared with two roommates — after nine months of what they politely called the boys’ attempts at keeping it clean.

A note from Jeannette, our founder: I’m a mom of two UF grads, and I lived out of town the whole time they were in school. I know the feeling of wondering whether your kid’s apartment is actually clean — and whether the bathroom and kitchen are sanitary, not just picked up. This guide is what I wish someone had handed me.

If your student lives in Gainesville and you live somewhere else, here’s how to get their place cleaned without flying in.

When parents usually book

• Move-in (mid-August): apartments are “turned” fast between leases, and many aren’t as clean as they should be. A move-in clean before the furniture arrives is the easiest way to start the year right.
• Move-out (late July to early August): the lease-end inspection is where deposits are won or lost. See our move-out checklist for exactly what gets checked.
• Winter break and spring break: a quiet empty apartment is perfect for a deep clean.
• Mid-semester rescue: exams, a new job, a rough stretch. A one-time reset can make a real difference to how a student feels at home.

Sorting out access

You don’t need to be there, and your student usually doesn’t either. The common options:

1. Your student lets us in and heads to class. We text when we arrive and when we’re done.
2. The leasing office releases a key or opens the unit, with written permission from the resident.
3. A lockbox or door code your student sets up for the day.

Tell us which one works when you book, and we’ll handle the coordination.

Roommates and shared apartments

Most student apartments are shared, and roommates rarely agree on who pays for what. We make it simple: we can clean just one bedroom and private bathroom, or add the kitchen and common areas, and we can invoice roommates separately if everyone agrees. If you’re only paying for your own student’s space, say so and that’s all we’ll touch.

What to include

For a move-out, always include the inside of the fridge and oven, cabinets, bathrooms, blinds and baseboards — those are the things inspections look at. For a mid-semester clean, focus on the kitchen and bathroom, change the sheets, and let your student pick one “problem spot” to tackle.

Paying and seeing the results

You’ll get the confirmation, the photos of the finished job and the invoice, not your student. Pay by card, Venmo, Zelle or check from wherever you are. If something isn’t right, text us a photo within 48 hours and we’ll go back and fix it — that’s our promise.

Five questions to ask any cleaner

1. Do you send photos when you finish? If they can’t show you the work, you’re taking it on faith.
2. What exactly is included? Get the list in writing, especially for move-outs.
3. Can you work with the leasing office? Experienced student-housing cleaners do this every week.
4. What happens if something is missed? Look for a clear re-clean policy.
5. How far ahead should I book? For late July and early August in Gainesville, the honest answer is “as soon as you know the date.”

Ready to book?

See our student apartment cleaning page for what’s included, or request a free estimate and choose “My student’s apartment.” We clean all over Gainesville — the Archer Road and SW 20th Avenue areas, Midtown and near campus, and the complexes out toward Tower Road.